The authors demonstrated that gamma secretase inhibitors, such as MK-0752 and RO4929097, inhibit breast tumor growth, but increase the breast cancer stem cell population in Notch3-expressing breast cancer cells, in a process that is coupled with IL6 induction and is blocked by the IL6R antagonist Tocilizumab. [Cell Death Differ]
Abstract

Scientists compared the effect of physiological and diabetic levels of glucose on malignant breast epithelial cell invasion and stemness capabilities. They performed microRNA array to determine the dysregulated microRNAs in hyperglycaemic conditions and performed functional and molecular analysis of the gene targets. [Br J Cancer]
Abstract

To identify genetic determinants important for the proliferation and survival of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) stem cells, an unbiased pooled shRNA screen of 10,000 genes was conducted under normoxic as well as hypoxic conditions. A number of essential genes were identified that are required for GBM stem-like cells (GBM-SC) growth, under either or both oxygen conditions, in two different GBM-SC lines. [Mol Cancer Res]
Abstract

Scientists analyzed the role played by mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in breast cancer oncogenesis. Data indicated that interaction of breast cancer cells with MSCs resulted in an increased proliferation and metabolic activity of breast cancer cells, partially due to MSC-derived microvesicles that are shed in the tumor microenvironment. [Sci Rep]
Full Article

Baseline and post-irradiation changes in CSC proportions were investigated by flow cytometry in a HPV-negative and a HPV-positive head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cell line, using fluorescent staining with CD44/ALDH markers. CSC proportions in both irradiated and unirradiated cultures were compared for the two cell lines at various times post-irradiation. [PLoS One]
Full Article

The authors discuss how increased oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) can enhance anabolic metabolism and cell proliferation, as well as cancer stemness and metastasis. They propose that retinoblastoma (RB1) loss represents a prototypic oncogenic alteration that promotes OXPHOS, that aggressive tumors acquire lethal combinations of oncogenes and tumor suppressors that stimulate anabolism versus OXPHOS, and that targeting both metabolic pathways would be therapeutic. [Trends Cancer]
Abstract

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The Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy announced that researchers at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute have joined its network. Dana-Farber is a leader in cancer research and brings a team of experts who will collaborate with Parker Institute investigators to enhance and expand research projects and clinical trials. [Dana-Farber Cancer Institute]
Press Release

Regen BioPharma Inc. believes it has taken full advantage of its recent prior discovery in developing small molecule drugs that activate NR2F6. The company recently reported that it identified key structural elements in small molecules that make them active and specific towards the NR2F6 target. Now, further chemical testing has revealed dozens of compounds which activate NR2F6 which contain the key motif discovered. [Regen BioPharma, Inc. (PR Newswire Association LLC)]
Press Release

The threatened Central European University in Budapest has been dealt a blow in its efforts to avert possible closure in Hungary. The country’s parliament voted to postpone, for a year, a decision that would allow the university to keep operating there. [Nature News]
Editorial

Revamped definitions of scientific units are on their way. In the biggest overhaul of the international system of units since its inception in 1960, a committee is set to redefine four basic units — the ampere, the kilogram, the kelvin and the mole — using relationships to fundamental constants, rather than abstract or arbitrary definitions. [Nature News]
Editorial

One of China’s most prestigious universities plans to give some articles in newspapers and posts on major social-media outlets the same weight as peer-reviewed publications when it evaluates researchers. [Nature News]
Editorial

As Japan heads towards a national election, scientific leaders worry that the outcome will do little to address long-standing concerns about the country’s deteriorating research landscape. They say that a decline in funding and a shift away from basic research has undermined Japan’s capacity to compete against both established scientific powerhouses and emerging ones such as China. [Nature News]
Editorial